Again, add -- ‘who has sanctified me, and adopted me as the child of God’.
‘Sanctified’ by his mysterious operations in the Sacraments, particularly in Baptism and Confirmation; by his divine inspirations and graces, especially by the grace of my vocation. ‘And adopted as the child of God’: in the fullest sense and with all privileges of a true adoption.
These thoughts will remind us of the solemn obligations of our Baptism, Confirmation, and vocation. They will make us docile and obedient to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and true children of God. We may thus derive great benefit from making the sign of the cross this way:
In the name of the Father, ‘who has created me in his image and for heaven’; and of the Son, ‘who has redeemed me with his blood and with so much love’; and of the Holy Spirit, ‘who has sanctified me and adopted me as the child of God’. I desire to begin and end this day, this action, etc. with the Sign of the Cross.
Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp314-5
Humility of the Heart of Jesus manifested in His acts
The whole life of our Lord on earth was only a series of humiliations. He endured them voluntarily to make amends for the insulted Majesty of his Father, pay the debt of our pride, and give us an example of humility.
He was born in a stable; lived for thirty years unknown to the world. During the three years of his public ministry he allowed envy and calumny to accuse him of being a seducer, an impostor, and possessed by the devil. He was crucified as a criminal between two thieves. Could he have abased himself more?
We, too, should act thus, if we are truly ‘humble of heart’. Instead of seeking praise and honors, we must be hidden from men, that we may please God alone. To shut ourselves out from the world, that our hearts may be free for God only. At least we should not be troubled if we are spoken against, reproved, or humbled.
Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p324
At Garabandal, Spain
On this day in 1965, vistors flocked to Garabandal to see the visionaries. It had been foretold months before that an apparition would occur on this date. True enough, the Archangel Michael delivered to Conchita (one of four visionaries) a message in Our Lady’s name.
‘As my message of 18 October 1961 has not been complied with and has not been made known to the world, I am advising you that this is the last one. Before, the cup was filling up. Now it is flowing over. Many cardinals, ... bishops and ... priests are on the road to perdition and are taking away many souls with them.
‘Less and less importance is being given to the Eucharist. You should turn the wrath of God away from yourselves by your efforts. If you ask Him forgiveness with sincere hearts, He will pardon you. I, your Mother, through the intercession of St Michael, the archangel, ask you to amend your lives.
‘You are now receiving the last warnings. I love you very much and I do not want your condemnation. Pray to us with sincerity and we will grant your requests. You should make sacrifices. Think about the passion of Jesus.’ (In 1986, Bishop Del Ballo of Santander declared these messages to be authentic and reliable.)
Ref: Fr Edgardo M Arellano, “20th Century Apparitions”, pp104-5
The effects of Communion on the soul
Communion sustains the life of the soul as food sustains the body. The reception of the Holy Eucharist keeps Catholics in God’s grace, since the soul recovers its energies from the continual ‘wear and tear’ it suffers through the wounds of original sin and of personal sins.
It maintains the life of God in the soul, freeing it from lukewarmness; and it helps us to avoid mortal sin and struggle effectively against venial sins. It makes supernatural life grow and develop.
Finally, the grace we receive in each Communion delights the person who receives with good dispositions. Nothing can be compared to the joy of the Holy Eucharist, to the friendship and nearness of Jesus, present within us.
Among all the practices of piety there is none whose sanctifying effectiveness can be compared to the worthy reception of this sacrament. In it, not only do we receive grace, but the Source and Fountainhead from which all grace flows. All the sacraments are ordained towards the Holy Eucharist: it is the pivotal sacrament. (St Thomas, “Summa Theologiae”, III, q65, a3)
We ask Our Lady to help us go to Communion every day with better dispositions.
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 2:409-10
The Most Holy Eucharist, the Sacrifice of Humanity
By extending the application of the work of redemption to humanity, the Eucharistic sacrifice contributes to the building ‘of the Church’. On Calvary, Christ merited salvation not only for every single man but also for the whole community. His oblation obtained the grace of reunification of mankind in the Body of the Church.
The Eucharist tends to realize this objective by daily building up the ecclesial community. The sacrifice of the altar reinforces the Church’s holiness and favoring her expansion in the world. In this sense the Eucharistic celebration is always a missionary act. It invisibly obtains a greater force of penetration for the Church into all human environments.
Building up the Church means, in addition, consolidating unity more and more. It was no accident that, at the last Supper Jesus prayed for his disciples to be united. So we can understand how, in every Eucharistic celebration, the Church follows the example of the Master by praying that unity may be evermore real and perfect.
In this way, the Eucharist causes ecumenical rapprochement among all Christians to make progress and, within the Catholic Church, tends to tighten the bonds uniting the faithful, above and beyond legitimate differences existing among them. By cooperating responsibly in such a unifying dynamics, Christians will show the world that their Master did not suffer in vain for the unity of mankind.
Ref: Cf “Prayers and Devotions from Pope John Paul II”, 1984, p236-7
Mother of Mercy
“The motherhood of Mary in the order of grace”, as the Second Vatican Council explains, “lasts without interruption from the consent which she faithfully gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without hesitation under the Cross, until the eternal fulfilment of all the elect. In fact, being assumed into heaven she has not laid aside this office of salvation; but by her manifold intercession she continues to obtain for us the graces of eternal salvation. By her maternal charity, she takes care of the brethren of her Son who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led into their blessed home.” (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church “Lumen Gentium”, 62: AAS 57 [1965], p63)
Ref: “Dives in Misericordia”, Encyclical Letter of Pope John Paul II, 1980, 50-51
• Apparition of Our Lady to St Agnes of “Monte Pulciano”, with whom, it is said, she left a small cross which is still shown with great solemnity on the first of May. — Chronicle of St. Dominic, part. i, lib. i, c. 72. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com)
• Apparition of Our Lady to St. Agnes of Mount Pulciano, Italy. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
(www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Mount Pulciano. (http://mariedenazareth.com)
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